🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime, Adventure
- Release year: 2018
- Runtime (length): 1h 42min
- IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (139K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 48%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Ex-FBI agent with a prosthetic leg jumps into a burning skyscraper to save his family from terrorists who want to steal a flash drive with financial data, because apparently, that’s still a thing in the future.
🍿 Skyscraper: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction and The Pearl
Will Sawyer, a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran, now assesses security for skyscrapers. He’s hired to inspect ‘The Pearl’ in Hong Kong, the tallest and most advanced building in the world, owned by Zhao Long Ji. Will, his wife Sarah, and their two children move into the building as part of the assessment.

Betrayal and Inferno
During the security assessment, Will is given a tablet with full administrative access to The Pearl’s systems. However, he’s betrayed by his old friend Ben, who is working with terrorists led by Kores Botha. They attempt to steal the tablet to disable the building’s security and fire suppression systems. Botha’s team starts a fire on the 96th floor, trapping Will’s family above the fire line.

The Rescue Mission Begins
Framed for the attack and pursued by the Hong Kong police, Will must find a way to infiltrate the burning skyscraper and rescue his family. He makes a daring leap from a construction crane into the building, initiating a series of perilous attempts to reach his loved ones while battling both the terrorists and the raging fire.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson): A former FBI agent and amputee who must rescue his family from a burning skyscraper.
- Sarah Sawyer (Neve Campbell): Will’s resourceful wife and a military medic who helps to protect their children and fight back against the villains.
- Kores Botha (Roland Møller): The ruthless international terrorist who orchestrates the attack on the skyscraper.
- Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han): The wealthy financier and owner of The Pearl skyscraper who becomes a target of the terrorists.
- Georgia Sawyer (McKenna Roberts): Will and Sarah’s daughter, who becomes a hostage and needs rescuing.
- Ben (Pablo Schreiber): Will’s former colleague and friend who betrays him and works with the terrorists.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Will Sawyer: “If you can’t fix it with duct tape… you ain’t using enough duct tape.” – Sawyer says this showcasing his resourcefulness when facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, highlighting his ability to improvise under pressure.
- Will Sawyer: “I got this.” – Spoken to reassure his family as he embarks on a dangerous rescue mission inside the burning skyscraper, demonstrating his unwavering commitment.
- Sarah Sawyer: “Just get our daughter back.” – Campbell’s character, Sarah Sawyer, powerfully conveys the desperate plea of a mother willing to do anything to protect her child, emphasizing the stakes.
- Kores Botha: “Sometimes the only way to find peace, is to tear the world apart.” – Showing the villain’s philosophy and justification for his destructive actions, revealing his twisted worldview.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $125,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $68,420,120
- Worldwide Gross: $304,870,828
💥 Skyscraper Reviews
Personal Review
I went into Skyscraper expecting a fun, mindless action movie, and that’s exactly what I got. Dwayne Johnson is always entertaining, and seeing him navigate the burning building with his prosthetic leg added a unique challenge. The crane jump was insane! Neve Campbell was surprisingly badass. There were a lot of cheesy moments, but I was entertained the whole time. Definitely a good movie for a night when you don’t want to think too hard.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson”
- “Fans of action and disaster movies”
- “Viewers who enjoy suspenseful thrillers”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense action violence”
- “Perilous situations involving fire and heights”
- “Some language”
Professional Reviews
- Empire: “It delivers exactly what you expect: big action, unbelievable stunts, and Dwayne Johnson being the heroic dad we all wish we had. Don’t expect depth, just enjoy the ride.
- Variety: “Skyscraper is a derivative action flick that nonetheless provides some thrills thanks to Johnson’s charisma and the impressive visuals of the burning skyscraper. Ultimately, it’s a fun but forgettable summer movie.
- The Hollywood Reporter: “While the plot is predictable and logic is often suspended, the film offers enough spectacle and suspense to keep audiences entertained. Johnson’s commitment to the role elevates the material.
Audience Reactions
Dwayne Johnson’s performance and the crazy stunts were the best part.: Most viewers enjoyed the non-stop action and found it to be a thrilling summer blockbuster.
Neve Campbell’s role was surprisingly strong and enjoyable.: Many appreciated seeing Neve Campbell in a more action-oriented role and praised her performance.
Overall Consensus: Skyscraper is generally viewed as a fun, if somewhat generic, action film with impressive visuals and a charismatic lead performance by Dwayne Johnson. It’s a good choice for those seeking pure entertainment and thrilling stunts, but may not appeal to viewers looking for a deeper story.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Dwayne Johnson’s character, Will Sawyer, uses a lot of duct tape throughout the movie. This became a running joke on set, with the crew gifting Johnson rolls of duct tape.”
- “The Pearl, the fictional skyscraper in the film, was inspired by several real-world buildings, including the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Shanghai Tower.”
- “Rawson Marshall Thurber, the director, incorporated several visual effects techniques to create a sense of vertigo and height, enhancing the audience’s immersion in the perilous situations.”
- “Neve Campbell, known for her role in the ‘Scream’ franchise, performed many of her own stunts in the film, adding to the authenticity of her character, Sarah Sawyer.”
🖥️ How to Watch Skyscraper?
Skyscraper is available for streaming on various platforms including Prime Video and Apple TV+. You can also rent or purchase the movie from digital retailers such as Google Play, Vudu, and YouTube. Check your local listings for cable and satellite on-demand options as well.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Skyscraper, you might like these similar films:
- Die Hard (1988): A lone hero battles terrorists in a high-rise building to save his family, mirroring the core plot of Skyscraper.
- The Towering Inferno (1974): A disaster film featuring a fire in a skyscraper, creating a similar sense of tension and large-scale peril.
- Cliffhanger (1993): An ordinary man battles criminals in a highly precarious setting to save his loved ones; the settings of this movie are mountains, not a building.
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011): Features thrilling action sequences involving scaling skyscrapers and high-stakes espionage, appealing to fans of intense action.
🛒 Skyscraper Related Products
- Skyscraper (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital): Own the action-packed movie in stunning 4K Ultra HD quality. Includes bonus content, deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes.
- Die Hard (Blu-ray): Relive the classic that inspired Skyscraper! Experience the original and see the formula done right with stunning action.
- Dwayne Johnson: The Rock – Action Figure: A highly detailed action figure of Dwayne Johnson as Will Sawyer from Skyscraper. Perfect for collectors and fans of The Rock.
- Skyscraper Movie Poster: Officially licensed movie poster featuring Dwayne Johnson in Skyscraper. Perfect for fans of action movies and The Rock. Add it to your collection.
🎧 Soundtrack
Skyscraper features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Yes, Skyscraper shares similarities with Die Hard, featuring a lone hero battling terrorists in a high-rise building to save his family. However, it also incorporates elements of disaster movies like The Towering Inferno, creating its own unique blend of action and suspense.
Skyscraper was primarily filmed in Vancouver and Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada. Some scenes were also shot on location in Hong Kong.
Skyscraper follows Will Sawyer, a former FBI agent and amputee, who must rescue his family from a burning skyscraper in Hong Kong after terrorists set the building ablaze and frame him for the crime.
🔥 Bonus Content
Dwayne THE ROCK Johnson (SUMPAH NIH ORG GEDE BGT!!) Interview Hongkong Skyscraper
Want to know more about Dwayne Johnson’s experience filming Skyscraper? Check out this exclusive interview where he talks about his role, the challenges, and his love for Hongkong!
Fred North helicopter stunt work with Dwane Johnson
Prepare to be amazed! This action-packed video shows the real-life hero behind Skyscraper’s intense helicopter stunts.
THE ROCK REACTS TO GUESS THAT MOVIE CHALLENGE (Ft. Skyscraper Cast)
Join Dwayne Johnson and the Skyscraper cast for a hilarious game of ‘Guess that Movie’! Watch them compete and have a blast while giving you a glimpse of their fun personalities.
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